Signal for motor-vehicles



R. Y. NEELY.

SGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, :wPLlcArloN mw oc'r. a, ma. A K LSS 3e atented A110". 24511928.

2 SHEEIS-SHEEI Z.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

R. Y. NEELY.` SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, I9I9.

STATES RANT Y. NEEL'Y, 0F WILLAMNA, QREGON.

SIGNAL FOB MOTOR-VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, RANT Y. NEELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Willemina, in the county of Yamhill and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Motor-Vehicles; and l do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and, exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to -make and use the same. i

This invention relates generally to motor vehicle accessories, and more particularly to signals for motor vehicles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a semaphore signal adapted to be attached to one side of an automobile or other motor vehicle and having certain caution positions whereby pedestrians and drivers ot other vehicles may be warned ot the intention of the driver of the automobile to lstop or turn in another direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which can be readily and easily attached to automobiles or other motor vehicles without first adapting 'the vehicle for the device, and to generallv .improve upon devices of this nature by the provision of a comparatively simple, strong,-

durable and inexpensive construction, one which will be ecient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purpose `tor which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ot parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

ln the drawings in which similar reference characters designate lilre parts throughout the severalviews:

Figure l is a Jliront view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention, showing it attached to one side of lan automobile.

F ig. 2 is an elevation of the outer side ot the device.

Fig. 3 is a iront view of a portion of the housing of the device and the si nal arm extending outwardly from the housing.

Fig. '1l is a longitudinal sectional view through the device taken on the line l-i Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 9. 1919.

Patented Aug. 2d, i920.

Serial No. 329.558.

phore arm and adjacent parts attached to the side of an automobile.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail sectionalviews taken on the planes indicated by the lines 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 respectively ot' Fig. 5.

F ig. 9 is a detail sectional View taken on the pane indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 3, an

Fig. l0 is a similar view taken on the plane indicated by the line 10-10 of Fig. d.

ln the embodiment illustrated the numeral 1 designates a plate which is bent to conform to the shape of the outer surface of one side a or' an automobile so as to Contact therewith throughout its entire area, said plate being disposed in a general vertical position with its upper end bent inwardly at right angles as at 2 and overlying the upper edge of the side a of the automobile. lower end with spaced parallel outwardly extending vlanges 3 which are formed integrally with the plate at the edges thereof. The laterally bent end 2 of the plate l is considerably wider than said plate and is provided with suitable means by which it may be attached to the top edge of the side a of the automobile. The means herein shown is in the form of ordinary wood screws.

Fixed to the plate which forms the laterally bent end 2 of the plate l is an upright casing 4l, the inner wall of which is provided with a bearing opening 5 and an arcuate slot d disposed around the opening 5 as its center. it various intervals along the outer edge ol the slot 6 are arranged notches 7. Fixed also to the plate which forms the laterally bent end 2 of the plate l is an u ri ht ear 8 havin a bearin o ene ing 9 therein disposed in alinement with the opening 5 in the inner end of the casing il.

The numeral l0 designates a semaphore arm, one end oit which is provided with a right angular' extension ll carrying in its ends detachable trunnions l2- and 13 disposed in the bearing openings 5 and 9 respectively 'whereby to form a pivotal mounting for the semaphore arno. is clearly shown in llig. 5 of the drawingsthe trunnion l2 extends into the casing d and carries a relatively movable switch member 14 adapted to Contact under certain conditions with a relatively lined. Switch member l5 attached to "vail o1v Ehe plate is provided at its Mill .of transparent or colored glass 17. Disposed within the head 16 between the plates of glass 17 is an electric light bulb 18, the

latter fitting in a socket 19 carried in the arm and having connected thereto electric conductors 20 and 21. rlhe conductor 20 passes through the arm 10, extension 11 thereof and out through the trunnion 13 and is connected to a source of electrical energy herein represented as an electric ba-ttery 22. The other conductor 21 extends through the arm 10, the extension 11 thereof and trunnion 12, and is connected to the switch member 14 carried by the latter. The electric circuit through the lamp is completed by means of a conductor 23 which extends from battery 22 to the switch mem- Threaded to extension 11 of the sema phore arm 10 is a handle 24, the latter extending in a general longitudinal direction `with respect to the arm 10 and being provided with a central bore 25, the upper end of which is enlarged as at 26. One side of the handle 24 `at the inner end thereof is provided with a transverse notchv27 which communicates with the bore 25. Disposed within the bore 25 is a slidingplunger 28 having its lower end 29 bent at rlght angles through the slot 27 and operating in the arcuate slot 6 and notches 7 in the adjacent end of casing 4. The other end of the plunger 28 carries a collar 30 between which and the shoulder formed at the junction of the bore 25 and enlarged portion 26 lof the same is disposed a coil spring 31 which serves to hold the plunger 28 with its outer end projected out of the outer end of the handle 24. As shown by the drawings the outer end of the plunger 28 is provided with a fiat portion or button 32.

The flanges 3 are shaped to conform to the contour of the outer edge of the head 16 .of the semaphore arm so that when said arm is disposed in a vertical position pointing downwardly, head 16 will be entirely confined between ythe flanges, 3.

e The normal position of the semaphore arm is vertical with its head 16 pointing downwardly as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. From this it will also be seen that the handle' 24 is disposed in a vertical position and when the parts are in this position and the driver o` the automobile desires to bring the machine to a stop and warn pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles of his intention to stop, it is only necessary to grasp the handle 25 and swing it inwardly until the laterally bent end 29 of the plunger 28 snaps into the first notch 7 at the outer edge of the slot 6. The sema- 6. If the driver of the automobile desires to turn to the left and warn pedestrians or drivers of other vehicles of that fact, it is only necessary to swing the semaphore arm 10 to a horizontal position, or until the laterally bent end 29 of the plunger 28 snaps into the second notch 7 .v lf he desires to turn to the right the semaphore arm 10 is movedy to a position where it points upwardly at an angle of about forty-five degrees, the laterally bent end 29 of the plunger 28 being in this case disposed in the third notch 7 When the semaphore arm is disposed in this safety position, that is, when it is disposed vertically with its head 16 pointing downwardly, the switch member 14 is out of engagement with the switch member 15. As soon, however, as the arm 10 is moved out of this safety sition, the switch member 14 engages'switch member 15 and closes the circuit through the electric lamp bulb 18 so as to cause the lamp to burn. In the daytime there is no necessity for illuminating the semaphore arm, and the break in the circuit through the lamp is effected by opening a switch 33 disposed in said circuit.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, use and operation of the device will be readily understood without a more extended: explanation.

Various changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal comprisin spaced bearing plates having openings ormed therein, a signal arm having a head positioned between said plates, one of the plates being provided with an arcuate slot having side. notches, trunnions extending through the openings of said plates and screwed into the head of said arm to pivotally mount the arm, a handle carried by the head of said arm and having a longitudinally extending passage having its outer end portion enlarged and provided with a side opening, a locking plunger slidable in the passage of the handle and having its inner end portion bent to provide a linger extendingthrough the side opening and into the arcnato slot, and resilient means in the enlarged portion of the passage engaging the plunger to yieldably retain the same in a set position with the finger in one of the side notches of the arcuate slot.

2. A signal comprising spaced bearing arms having openings formed thereinV and one having an xarcuate slot provided with side notches, a semaphore arm having an offset head at one end extending between the arms, trunnions rotatably mounted in the openings of the bearing arms and connected with the head of said semaphore arm, a hollow handle carried by lthe semaphore head and having a side opening, and a latching plunger slidably mounted in the handle and having its inner end portion provided Lil.)

with a finger extending through the side opening of the handle into the arcuate slot= 3. A signal comprising bearing brackets, a hollow semaphore arm, an open sided housing for the semaphore arm having at its upper end a tongue extending rearwardly thereof and carrying the bearing brackets, a plug fitting into the hollow semaphore arm and extending between the bearing arms, a handle carried by the plug between the hearing arms, and a latch Carried by the handle and releasably engaging one bearing arm.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand.

RANT Y. NEELY, 

